Pura Belpre Award (1996-2006)

The Belpre Medals honor a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose works best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. The awards are given biennially.

Click on the title to read a short summary of the book, and to place a hold.

The number in parentheses after each book is the year in which it was awarded the Pura Belpre Award.

The Tequila Worm by Viola Canales (2006)

Doña Flor: A Tall Tale About a Giant Woman with a Great Big Heart by Raul Colon and Pat Mora

Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez (2004)

Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book by Yuyi Morales (2004)

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan (2002)

Chato and the Party Animals by Gary Soto, illustrated by Susan Guevara (2002)

Under the Royal Palms: A Childhood in Cuba by Alma Flor Ada (2000)

Magic Windows written and illustrated by Carmen Lomas Garza (2000)

Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida by Victor Martinez (1998)

Snapshots from the Wedding by Gary Soto, illustrated by Stephanie Garcia (1998)

An Island Like You: Stories of the Barrio by Judith Ortiz Cofer (1996)

Chato's Kitchen by Gary Soto, illustrated by Susan Guevara (1996)